Ancient Languages

Latin I, Grade 9, 1 Credit

The goals of this class are to introduce students to the basics of the Latin language and to improve their language skills in general. Students concentrate on learning vocabulary, inflectional patterns of different parts of speech, and rules of agreement. Students also translate Latin sentences into English and, by the end of the year, connected Latin prose of moderate complexity. Students are encouraged to reflect on the ways in which Latin expresses concepts differently from English. Explorations into Roman History, geography, mythology, and culture complement the linguistic aspects of the course.

Latin II, Grade 10, 1 Credit

After a review of the material learned in Latin 1, students approach the study of forms and structures that characterize complex Latin writing: participles, the subjunctive mood and its uses, and indirect discourse. In the second semester, students read excerpts from Julius Caesar’s De Bello Gallico and selected other texts. Students also pursue research projects in order to develop the skills necessary for completing the Internal Assessment in IB Latin in the following years.

IB Latin III, SL 1, Grade 11, 1 Credit

While continuing to improve their facility with Latin grammar and syntax, students begin their study of authors featured in the IB curriculum. Students translate extensively from the Metamorphoses of Ovid to prepare for the IB translation exam (Paper 1). Careful attention is paid to the limits of translations in conveying all the meanings contained in the original language. They also study texts they will encounter on the genre study portion of the IB exam (Paper 2). Students work toward gaining an understanding of the literary devices and social context that is necessary for accurately comprehending and appreciating these texts. Students also complete a research dossier toward the fulfillment of the IB Internal Assessment.

IB Latin IV, SL 2, Grade 12, 1 Credit

While maintaining their facility with reading Ovid in preparation for the IB Paper 1, students complete their study of the authors prescribed for the Paper 2. Students also spend time revising their Internal Assessment for official submission. As in SL 1, a significant portion of this course is devoted to studying the social context in which the ancient works were produced. The course ends with a review of all the texts studied throughout the two year cycle in preparation for the IB exams in May.

IB Latin III, HL 1, Grade 11, 1 Credit

While continuing to improve their facility with Latin grammar and syntax, students begin their study of authors featured in the IB curriculum. Students translate extensively from the Metamorphoses of Ovid to prepare for the IB translation exam (Paper 1). Careful attention is paid to the limits of translations in conveying all the meanings contained in the original language. They also study texts they will encounter on the genre study portion of the IB exam (Paper 2). The number of works read is greater than that read in SL, and expectations for competency in translation and sophistication of interpretation are higher than in SL. Students work toward gaining an understanding of the literary devices and social context that is necessary for accurately comprehending and appreciating these texts. Students also complete a research dossier toward the fulfillment of the IB Internal Assessment.

IB Latin IV, HL 2, Grade 12, 1 Credit

While maintaining their facility with reading Ovid in preparation for the IB Paper 1, students complete their study of the authors prescribed for the Paper 2. Students also spend time revising their Internal Assessment for official submission. The course ends with a review of all the texts studied throughout the two year cycle in preparation for the IB exams in May.